First, thanks for the compliment and I look forward to browsing your Substack.
As to how the Woke brigade gets upended? I don't have a crystal ball or any solid feeling for HOW it will happen - i.e., what specific development will trigger its collapse. I just notice that the pushback is growing strong, including from the Left, and I think there is a growing consensus that this cancel culture and censorship stuff is deeply immoral and needs to end.
So just as McCarthyism basically dissipated after the attorney for an accused Army officer tore Joe McCarthy a new one during a Senate hearing, I think we're approaching the tipping point where some pending attempt to cancel someone is going to finally push enough people over the edge that the woke are going to lose their influence.
I think also, maybe because of improved connectivity, our youth actually feel responsible for fixing the world. They are taught to be social Justice warriors. And just taking care of your own, being kind, bettering yourself, being a blessing to people you meet. These things are not enough anymore. I feel sorry for this generation
Yeah, they've been taught that they live in the most racist, bigoted nation on Earth - which is easily refuted, yet they believe it reflexively. Kids in other developed, democratic nations - India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, etc. - are taught that they live in a great nation, and their job is to someday help make it even better - by being kind, taking care of your own, being a blessing. This idea that our country is so vile that it needs to be torn down and rebuilt isn't grounded in anything other than grievance theory.
“Join our movement....unless you say something we don’t like”. Sounds like the beatings will continue until morale improves. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Glad you mentioned a few other religions. Despite attending parochial schools, a Jesuit college and being a practicing Catholic most of my life, I have some issues with organized religion but obviously see a tremendous value in religion, all religions. There’s some great stuff in there. I also believe many religions have this punishment aspect for noncompliance... my view is more of unconditional love and forgiveness. I believe we were meant to be kind and be of service to each other. How did we stray so far from that tenant. It’s like, “Hey humans, you have one job”...
Anyway I find your writing thought provoking and generally positive. Thank you for that.
“Join our movement and we’ll promise not to attack you unless you say something we don’t like” lacks a certain universal appeal. That there is what they used to refer to as a "wry" observation, before the wokesters made language no fun at all.
Hi Jim,
I’m Dale Hansen, a fairly new subscriber to your newsletter.
I enjoy your posts, and I look forward to seeing what’s next.
In this article, you wrote:
“wokeism will not slink into the night quietly — but rather the end will come quickly, unexpectedly, definitively.“
I too, think that ‘wokeism’ is an embarrassing, American ‘acne’ problem that will disappear in due time.
I’m just curious as to what you might think about the hows, and whys of its coming demise. I’d like to compare our theories.
I’m also a relatively new writer here on Substack, and I’d like to extend my invitation to you to browse my ‘stack of stuff’, if you’d be interested.
Thanks, & keep up the good work!
DH
Hey Dale,
First, thanks for the compliment and I look forward to browsing your Substack.
As to how the Woke brigade gets upended? I don't have a crystal ball or any solid feeling for HOW it will happen - i.e., what specific development will trigger its collapse. I just notice that the pushback is growing strong, including from the Left, and I think there is a growing consensus that this cancel culture and censorship stuff is deeply immoral and needs to end.
So just as McCarthyism basically dissipated after the attorney for an accused Army officer tore Joe McCarthy a new one during a Senate hearing, I think we're approaching the tipping point where some pending attempt to cancel someone is going to finally push enough people over the edge that the woke are going to lose their influence.
I think also, maybe because of improved connectivity, our youth actually feel responsible for fixing the world. They are taught to be social Justice warriors. And just taking care of your own, being kind, bettering yourself, being a blessing to people you meet. These things are not enough anymore. I feel sorry for this generation
Yeah, they've been taught that they live in the most racist, bigoted nation on Earth - which is easily refuted, yet they believe it reflexively. Kids in other developed, democratic nations - India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa, etc. - are taught that they live in a great nation, and their job is to someday help make it even better - by being kind, taking care of your own, being a blessing. This idea that our country is so vile that it needs to be torn down and rebuilt isn't grounded in anything other than grievance theory.
“Join our movement....unless you say something we don’t like”. Sounds like the beatings will continue until morale improves. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Glad you mentioned a few other religions. Despite attending parochial schools, a Jesuit college and being a practicing Catholic most of my life, I have some issues with organized religion but obviously see a tremendous value in religion, all religions. There’s some great stuff in there. I also believe many religions have this punishment aspect for noncompliance... my view is more of unconditional love and forgiveness. I believe we were meant to be kind and be of service to each other. How did we stray so far from that tenant. It’s like, “Hey humans, you have one job”...
Anyway I find your writing thought provoking and generally positive. Thank you for that.
I appreciate the support!
“Join our movement and we’ll promise not to attack you unless you say something we don’t like” lacks a certain universal appeal. That there is what they used to refer to as a "wry" observation, before the wokesters made language no fun at all.
Meh - took away their own fun, not mine ... ;-)